Thanks to Wildlife Forever and some high-tech DNA testing, wildlife managers in the Southwest have a better understanding of the endangered masked bobwhite quail. Researchers set out to determine the bird’s DNA sequence in an attempt to better manage and protect its genetic pool. “South Texas bobwhite and masked bobwhite quail form a distinct and relatively closely related assemblage,” said John Patton, senior geneticist at LGL Ecological Genetics in Bryan, Texas. As a result, South Texas bobwhite quail will be used as a model population for endangered masked bobwhite. Knowledge of the masked bobwhite’s genetic pool will help biologists better manage the species.